Meet The Candidate: Omari Musa For Delegate To Congress

WASHINGTON, DC — In addition to voting for president and vice president of the United States in the Nov. 3 general election, voters in Washington, D.C., will choose a delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives; at-large member of the D.C. Council; member of the D.C. Council for wards 2, 4, 7 and 8; U.S. senator; U.S. representative; at-large member of the State Board of Education; member of the State Board of Education for wards 2, 4, 7, and 8; and Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner.

Omari Musa is a 76-year-old janitor who is running to be the District's delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives.

As part of its coverage of the 2020 election, Patch has asked candidates in select races in D.C. to fill out a questionnaire to describe why they think they're the best person to fill the job they're running for.

Candidate

Omari Musa

Age (as of Election Day)

76

Please specify which DC City Council seat you are running for (Ward 1, At-large, etc.):

delegate U.S. House of Representatives, District of Columbia

Party Affiliation

Socialist Workers Party

Family

none

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

no

Education

Political activist in the working class and Black movements for decades.

Occupation

janitor

Campaign website

none

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

none

The single most pressing issue facing the District is jobs, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Propose the unions fight for govt. funded program of public works to build housing, hospitals, schools, repair roads and transportation at union scale wages and reduction of work hours at no reduction in pay to spread around the available work. The Socialist Workers Party campaign proposes workers organize a union in every work place to defend attacks on our working conditions and wages. The unions need to organize a labor party to organize a class break from the bosses parties---the Democratic and Republican.

Do you support Black Lives Matter and what are your thoughts on the demonstrations held since the death of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake?

The Socialist Workers Party campaign supports mass, legal protests against police brutality and killings and demand they be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. We oppose actions of a self appointed minority that initiates violence or looting. That is against the interests of the working class and serves the rulers in their efforts to demobilize mass protests against the killings and brutality of the cops.

What are your thoughts on the campaign to "defund" the police?

The police "serve and protect" the interests and profits of the rich and will not be "defunded." Working people in our millions need to replace the capitalist system with a workers and farmers government that will function in the interests of the great majority of working people.

What are your thoughts on the state and national response to the coronavirus pandemic? Do you favor such measures as limiting operation of non-essential businesses or restricting indoor/outdoor dining? And do you favor a nationwide mask mandate?

This system has no answer to the pandamic. What is being protected is the "health care industry" that provides billions in profits to the large hospital corporations. Health care is a right in Cuba. All are taken care of. The profits system in the U.S. determines all.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am the only working class candidate with a program to advance the interests and needs of working people.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

They serve the interest of the rich and oppose those of working people

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

A woman's right to choose abortion; amnesty for all immigrant workers in the U.S.; workers control of production on the job; end the U.S. embargo against Cuba and end all travel restrictions to the island by U.S. citizens and residents. for the recognition of the state of Israel and a contiguous Palestine state. Statehood for D.C.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

No

The best advice ever shared with me was:

History is on the side of the oppressed and exploited. Working people will learn our own worth and abilities as we fight for a society based on human solidarity and not profit.

This article originally appeared on the Washington DC Patch